Loyalty or Improving the team?

[syfy9]

If you were the Lakers GM, would you trade Bryant for Eric Gordon to help the team? Or not because of loyalty?

Would you trade Pierce for Granger or Rudy Gay?

Dirk for LaMarcus Aldridge?

Etc?

[Who]

Loyalty is the to the team and fan-base. Not the player.

Improve the team.

[GrandTheftRondo]

You don't trade guys like Kobe, Dirk, and PP. You just don't.

Guys who have played their entire career with you, who have become the face of your franchise, who have been there through all the ups and downs, and have delivered a championship should be un-tradeable IMO.

I know its a business, but loyalty goes both ways. None of these players had to stay with the same franchise for their whole careers. None. For Dirk and PP, both could have abandoned ship when times got rough. And they didn't. That demands some type of reciprocal loyalty to me.

If you can't improve your team without trading your franchise player, maybe you're not as good of a GM as you think you are.

[syfy9]

You don't trade guys like Kobe, Dirk, and PP. You just don't.

Guys who have played their entire career with you, who have become the face of your franchise, who have been there through all the ups and downs, and have delivered a championship should be un-tradeable IMO.

I know its a business, but loyalty goes both ways. None of these players had to stay with the same franchise for their whole careers. None. For Dirk and PP, both could have abandoned ship when times got rough. And they didn't. That demands some type of reciprocal loyalty to me.

But what if you are getting All-star to Star material in the process?

Kobe for CP3? Pierce for Durant? Dirk for Anthony Davis or Kevin Love?

[GrandTheftRondo]

You don't trade guys like Kobe, Dirk, and PP. You just don't.

Guys who have played their entire career with you, who have become the face of your franchise, who have been there through all the ups and downs, and have delivered a championship should be un-tradeable IMO.

I know its a business, but loyalty goes both ways. None of these players had to stay with the same franchise for their whole careers. None. For Dirk and PP, both could have abandoned ship when times got rough. And they didn't. That demands some type of reciprocal loyalty to me.

But what if you are getting All-star to Star material in the process?

Kobe for CP3? Pierce for Durant? Dirk for Anthony Davis or Kevin Love?

If someone is willing to give you all star level talent for a player you're trying to get rid of, there's a problem.

When talking about moving franchise players, the issue is usually age or injury. Who's gonna give all star level talent away for that?

[cltc5]

KObe, Dirk are still too valuable.  I think PP is on his last legs, and I would love to see him retire a C, but if it means sacrificing getting younger and better then loyalty to the player has to walk.  If he could retire and they give him a severence package thatd be nice

[albas89]

KObe, Dirk are still too valuable.  I think PP is on his last legs, and I would love to see him retire a C, but if it means sacrificing getting younger and better then loyalty to the player has to walk.  If he could retire and they give him a severence package thatd be nice

People are REALLY underestimating the fact that Pierce was playing hurt during the whole playoffs. Before he got injured I can remember a great shooting performance in Game 4 against the Hawks and of course Game 2, when he basically carried the team on his back with Rondo being suspended... Pierce is not done, c'mon, he was playing hurt...

[Kane3387]

Improving the team. Ultimately you have to decide if you are a Celtic's fan or a player fan. Now it's not THAT cut and dry but a guy just can't be untradeable because of past accomplishments. 

[Bean_town fan]

You improve the team, no matter how many fans you p--- off. I personally refuse to witness the dark days again.....

[ballin]

You don't trade guys like Kobe, Dirk, and PP. You just don't.

Guys who have played their entire career with you, who have become the face of your franchise, who have been there through all the ups and downs, and have delivered a championship should be un-tradeable IMO.

I know its a business, but loyalty goes both ways. None of these players had to stay with the same franchise for their whole careers. None. For Dirk and PP, both could have abandoned ship when times got rough. And they didn't. That demands some type of reciprocal loyalty to me.

If you can't improve your team without trading your franchise player, maybe you're not as good of a GM as you think you are.

This.

[Celtics18]

Loyalty is the to the team and fan-base. Not the player.

Improve the team.

Sometimes loyalty to the player amounts to loyalty to the team and the fan-base.  I think rebuilding smart means treating our veteran leaders and legends the way they deserve to be treated.  

In an NBA age where players increasingly have more of a say in where they end up playing, showing commitment to winning while at the same time showing commitment to players who have served the franchise well is an attractive quality to prospective employees.

The Celtics reputation seems to be at a high right now.  Danny Ainge starting to act like a hungry shark right now won't improve what looks like a stable future.  Be patient.  Rebuilding will happen.  

[cltc5]

KObe, Dirk are still too valuable.  I think PP is on his last legs, and I would love to see him retire a C, but if it means sacrificing getting younger and better then loyalty to the player has to walk.  If he could retire and they give him a severence package thatd be nice

People are REALLY underestimating the fact that Pierce was playing hurt during the whole playoffs. Before he got injured I can remember a great shooting performance in Game 4 against the Hawks and of course Game 2, when he basically carried the team on his back with Rondo being suspended... Pierce is not done, c'mon, he was playing hurt...

So keep someone that can give us a big game once in awhile at the risk of developing one or two players that can give us multiple big games?

[wdleehi]

Would you trade them?  Yes.


For the packages you mention, no. 

[mgent]

LMA, definitely.  Mavs still have a chance to make the finals next year but it's not big enough to pass on a solid rebuilding opportunity.  Lakers are in the exact same boat, and while you might be able to get more for Kobe, I'd definitely do that one too.

Pierce for Granger or Gay, never.  Although that's pretty fair value those are just not the type of guys to build a team from scratch around.  Loyalty aside that's just not a smart move.

[thirstyboots18]

I can not wrap my mind around the concept of "franchise player".

Having said that, loyalty is everything...if you trade a long time player, you are not really improving the team because you are damaging trust and chemistry of the other players.

I believe Kevin Garnett has two reasons to come back to the Celtics.  1. Win a championship.   2.  Play with Pierce, Allen and even Rondo again to win it together.

Everyone knows what a loyal guy KG is and everyone knows he loves playing in Boston.  However, I am afraid if you break up the core he will be more tempted to retire.  At this point, it would undoubtedly be difficult to bring the the big three off the bench, but it has to be done, to prepare for the future while limiting their minutes...maybe changing up who starts from game to game depending on match-ups.  Danny has already started collecting pieces for the "new" Celtics  (Rondo, Bradley, Green) and if KG and RA will both come back at a discount, we will continue to be contenders while rebuilding.